Bill Text: FL S0678 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Native Language Assessment in Public Schools

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Education [S0678 Detail]

Download: Florida-2020-S0678-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 678
       
       
        
       By Senator Taddeo
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00353F-20                                           2020678__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to native language assessment in
    3         public schools; amending s. 1002.69, F.S.; requiring
    4         the Department of Education to adopt native language
    5         versions of the school readiness screener, the school
    6         readiness assessment, the Florida Voluntary
    7         Prekindergarten Assessment, and the Florida
    8         Kindergarten Readiness Screener; requiring school
    9         districts to administer such screeners and assessments
   10         to certain students; providing for the determination
   11         of when it is appropriate to administer native
   12         language versions of the screeners and assessments;
   13         amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; requiring that a high
   14         school equivalency examination administered in any
   15         language other than English be given the same weight
   16         as a high school equivalency examination administered
   17         in English; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; revising
   18         requirements of the statewide, standardized assessment
   19         program to include native language versions of related
   20         assessments; requiring school districts to administer
   21         native language versions of such assessments to
   22         English language learners and other students for whom
   23         it is appropriate; providing for the determination of
   24         when it is appropriate to administer native language
   25         versions of such assessments; requiring the department
   26         to create a timetable and action plan for the
   27         development and adoption of native language versions
   28         of the assessments; requiring the state to accept
   29         results on the high school equivalency examination
   30         from any language version of the examination;
   31         providing for the administration of language
   32         proficiency assessments; defining terms; requiring the
   33         department to develop or identify content assessments
   34         in target languages; providing for the administration
   35         of content assessments in target languages in certain
   36         education programs; requiring the department to create
   37         a timetable and an action plan for the development and
   38         adoption of native language examinations; requiring
   39         the state board to adopt standards for heritage
   40         language courses; requiring the state board to develop
   41         a timeline for phasing in standards for additional
   42         languages; requiring the Commissioner of Education to
   43         identify alternative assessments and passing scores
   44         for a specified purpose; requiring the State Board of
   45         Education to approve by rule passing scores on
   46         alternative assessments; requiring the department to
   47         provide funding for instructional materials for
   48         heritage language courses, subject to legislative
   49         appropriation; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.; requiring
   50         the state board, in conjunction with the Board of
   51         Governors, to develop and implement native language
   52         versions of the common placement test for public
   53         postsecondary education, beginning with certain
   54         languages; requiring the state board and the board to
   55         develop a timeline for phasing in additional
   56         languages; providing an effective date.
   57  
   58         WHEREAS, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
   59  includes the purpose of assisting all English learners,
   60  including immigrant children and youth, in achieving at high
   61  levels in academic subjects so that all English learners can
   62  meet the same challenging state academic standards that all
   63  students are expected to meet, and
   64         WHEREAS, the ESSA requires states to make every effort to
   65  develop annual academic assessments in languages other than
   66  English which are present to a significant extent in the
   67  participating student population, and
   68         WHEREAS, Florida’s diversity of English language learners
   69  surpasses most states in the country, and
   70         WHEREAS, Florida is ranked third in English language
   71  learner population and, although Spanish is the native language
   72  of the majority of these students, English language learners in
   73  this state speak more than 200 different languages, and
   74         WHEREAS, all students within this state should be given an
   75  equitable opportunity to study and learn subjects required for
   76  grade-to-grade progression and high school graduation, and
   77         WHEREAS, the current system of testing students for
   78  accountability purposes in a language they do not understand
   79  does not provide accurate information about how well English
   80  language learners are learning content area subjects, NOW,
   81  THEREFORE,
   82  
   83  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   84  
   85         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 1002.69, Florida
   86  Statutes, is amended to read:
   87         1002.69 Statewide kindergarten screening; kindergarten
   88  readiness rates; state-approved prekindergarten enrollment
   89  screening; good cause exemption.—
   90         (1)(a) The department shall adopt a statewide kindergarten
   91  screening that assesses the readiness of each student for
   92  kindergarten based upon the performance standards adopted by the
   93  department under s. 1002.67(1) for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
   94  Education Program. The department shall require that each school
   95  district administer the statewide kindergarten screening to each
   96  kindergarten student in the school district within the first 30
   97  school days of each school year. Nonpublic schools may
   98  administer the statewide kindergarten screening to each
   99  kindergarten student in a nonpublic school who was enrolled in
  100  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
  101         (b) The department shall adopt native language versions of
  102  the school readiness screener, the school readiness assessment,
  103  the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Assessment, and the
  104  Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener beginning with the two
  105  most prevalent languages represented in the English language
  106  learner population within this state. For students who are
  107  English language learners and for whom it is appropriate, each
  108  school district shall administer, as appropriate, a native
  109  language version of the school readiness screener, the school
  110  readiness assessment, the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten
  111  Assessment, and the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener. A
  112  parent of a prekindergarten dual language learner or a
  113  kindergarten dual language learner must be given the opportunity
  114  to determine whether the administration of a native language
  115  version screening or assessment is appropriate for his or her
  116  student. If a parent does not exercise his or her right, the
  117  decision to determine the appropriateness of the administration
  118  of a native language version screening or assessment may be
  119  based on teacher judgment.
  120         Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 1003.435, Florida
  121  Statutes, is amended to read:
  122         1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
  123         (5) Each district school board shall develop, in
  124  cooperation with the area Florida College System institution
  125  board of trustees, a plan for the provision of advanced
  126  instruction for those students who attain satisfactory
  127  performance on the high school equivalency examination or the
  128  subject area examinations or who demonstrate through other means
  129  a readiness to engage in postsecondary-level academic work. The
  130  plan shall include provisions for the equitable distribution of
  131  generated funds to cover personnel, maintenance, and other costs
  132  of offering the advanced instruction. Priority shall be given to
  133  programs of advanced instruction offered in high school
  134  facilities. A high school equivalency examination administered
  135  in any language other than English must be given the same weight
  136  as a high school equivalency examination administered in
  137  English.
  138         Section 3. Present subsections (9) through (13) of section
  139  1008.22, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (10)
  140  through (14), respectively, a new subsection (9) is added to
  141  that section, and paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (3) of
  142  that section are amended, and paragraph (h) is added to that
  143  subsection, to read:
  144         1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.—
  145         (3) STATEWIDE, STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.—The
  146  Commissioner of Education shall design and implement a
  147  statewide, standardized assessment program aligned to the core
  148  curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
  149  State Standards. The commissioner also must develop or select
  150  and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
  151  used in all juvenile justice education programs in the state.
  152  These tools must accurately measure the core curricular content
  153  established in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.
  154  Participation in the assessment program is mandatory for all
  155  school districts and all students attending public schools,
  156  including adult students seeking a standard high school diploma
  157  under s. 1003.4282 and students in Department of Juvenile
  158  Justice education programs, except as otherwise provided by law.
  159  If a student does not participate in the assessment program, the
  160  school district must notify the student’s parent and provide the
  161  parent with information regarding the implications of such
  162  nonparticipation. The statewide, standardized assessment program
  163  shall be designed and implemented as follows:
  164         (a) Statewide, standardized comprehensive assessments.—The
  165  statewide, standardized Reading assessment shall be administered
  166  annually in grades 3 through 10. The statewide, standardized
  167  Writing assessment shall be administered annually at least once
  168  at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. When the
  169  Reading and Writing assessments are replaced by English Language
  170  Arts (ELA) assessments, ELA assessments shall be administered to
  171  students in grades 3 through 10. Retake opportunities for the
  172  grade 10 Reading assessment or, upon implementation, the grade
  173  10 ELA assessment must be provided. Students taking the ELA
  174  assessments shall not take the statewide, standardized
  175  assessments in Reading or Writing. Reading passages and writing
  176  prompts for ELA assessments shall incorporate grade-level core
  177  curricula content from social studies. The statewide,
  178  standardized Mathematics assessments shall be administered
  179  annually in grades 3 through 8. Students taking a revised
  180  Mathematics assessment shall not take the discontinued
  181  assessment. The statewide, standardized Science assessment shall
  182  be administered annually at least once at the elementary and
  183  middle grades levels. In order to earn a standard high school
  184  diploma, a student who has not earned a passing score on the
  185  grade 10 Reading assessment or, upon implementation, the grade
  186  10 ELA assessment must earn a passing score on the assessment
  187  retake or earn a concordant score as authorized under subsection
  188  (10) subsection (9).
  189         (c) Students with disabilities; Florida Alternate
  190  Assessment; English language learners.—
  191         1. Each district school board must provide instruction to
  192  prepare students with disabilities in the core content knowledge
  193  and skills necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression
  194  and high school graduation.
  195         2. A student with a disability, as defined in s. 1007.02,
  196  for whom the individual education plan (IEP) team determines
  197  that the statewide, standardized assessments under this section
  198  cannot accurately measure the student’s abilities, taking into
  199  consideration all allowable accommodations, shall have
  200  assessment results waived for the purpose of receiving a course
  201  grade and a standard high school diploma. Such waiver shall be
  202  designated on the student’s transcript. The statement of waiver
  203  shall be limited to a statement that performance on an
  204  assessment was waived for the purpose of receiving a course
  205  grade or a standard high school diploma, as applicable.
  206         3. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, based
  207  upon recommendations of the commissioner, for the provision of
  208  assessment accommodations for students with disabilities and for
  209  students who have limited English proficiency.
  210         a. Accommodations that negate the validity of a statewide,
  211  standardized assessment are not allowed during the
  212  administration of the assessment. However, instructional
  213  accommodations are allowed in the classroom if identified in a
  214  student’s IEP. Students using instructional accommodations in
  215  the classroom that are not allowed on a statewide, standardized
  216  assessment may have assessment results waived if the IEP team
  217  determines that the assessment cannot accurately measure the
  218  student’s abilities.
  219         b. If a student is provided with instructional
  220  accommodations in the classroom that are not allowed as
  221  accommodations for statewide, standardized assessments, the
  222  district must inform the parent in writing and provide the
  223  parent with information regarding the impact on the student’s
  224  ability to meet expected performance levels. A parent must
  225  provide signed consent for a student to receive classroom
  226  instructional accommodations that would not be available or
  227  permitted on a statewide, standardized assessment and
  228  acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
  229  implications of such instructional accommodations.
  230         c. If a student’s IEP states that online administration of
  231  a statewide, standardized assessment will significantly impair
  232  the student’s ability to perform, the assessment shall be
  233  administered in hard copy.
  234         d.(I)Each school district shall administer, as
  235  appropriate, native language versions of statewide, standardized
  236  comprehensive assessments and EOC assessments to English
  237  language learners and for whom it is appropriate.
  238         (A) A parent of an English language learner in grades
  239  prekindergarten through 5 and a parent of a student with
  240  disabilities of any grade level may determine whether the
  241  administration of a native language version of a standardized
  242  comprehensive assessment and EOC assessment is appropriate.
  243         (B) An English language learner in grades 6 through 12 may
  244  determine whether the administration of a native language
  245  version of a standardized comprehensive assessment and EOC
  246  assessment is appropriate. The parent of an English language
  247  learner in grades 6 through 12 is entitled to prohibit his or
  248  her student from being administered the native language versions
  249  of the assessments.
  250         (II) The Department of Education shall develop a timetable
  251  and action plan to phase in the development and adoption of the
  252  native language assessments, beginning with assessments for the
  253  two most prevalent languages represented in the English language
  254  learner population within this state and with assessments
  255  required for high school graduation. The state shall accept
  256  results on the high school equivalency examination from any
  257  language version of the examination.
  258         4. For students with significant cognitive disabilities,
  259  the Department of Education shall provide for implementation of
  260  the Florida Alternate Assessment to accurately measure the core
  261  curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
  262  State Standards.
  263         (h)Language proficiency assessments and content
  264  assessments in the target language of instruction.
  265         1. Language proficiency assessments in the target language
  266  identified or developed by the department must be administered
  267  annually for the target language in dual language programs,
  268  bilingual education programs, and heritage language programs to
  269  all participating students, including, but not limited to,
  270  English language learners. For purposes of this paragraph, the
  271  term “heritage language program” means a program for heritage
  272  language speakers and the term “heritage language speakers”
  273  means individuals who are exposed to a language other than
  274  English at home, but educated primarily in English. Content
  275  assessments in the target language must be identified or
  276  developed by the department and administered annually in dual
  277  language and bilingual education programs for content knowledge
  278  taught in a language other than English to all participating
  279  students, including, but not limited to, English language
  280  learners.
  281         2. The department shall develop a timetable and action plan
  282  to phase in the identification or development and adoption of
  283  native language examinations of progress in acquisition of the
  284  target language and examinations of achievement in the content
  285  areas taught through the target language, beginning with
  286  examinations for the most frequently taught language and content
  287  area in bilingual or dual language programs in public schools.
  288         3. The state board shall adopt standards for heritage
  289  language courses, beginning with the heritage languages with the
  290  largest enrollment, and shall develop a timeline for phasing in
  291  standards for additional languages.
  292         (9) ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS; ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS.—The
  293  Commissioner of Education shall identify alternative assessments
  294  and their respective passing scores to be offered in languages
  295  other than English and that are appropriate for demonstrating
  296  the college readiness of English language learners. The passing
  297  scores on alternative assessments identified pursuant to this
  298  subsection must be approved by state board rule.
  299         Section 4. Subject to legislative appropriation, the
  300  Department of Education shall provide funds to school districts
  301  to purchase instructional materials for heritage language
  302  program courses as provided in s. 1008.22(3)(h), Florida
  303  Statutes.
  304         Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 1008.30, Florida
  305  Statutes, is amended to read:
  306         1008.30 Common placement testing for public postsecondary
  307  education.—
  308         (1) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
  309  Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common
  310  placement test for the purpose of assessing the basic
  311  computation and communication skills of students who intend to
  312  enter a degree program at any public postsecondary educational
  313  institution. Alternative assessments that may be accepted in
  314  lieu of the common placement test shall also be identified in
  315  rule. Public postsecondary educational institutions shall
  316  provide appropriate modifications of the test instruments or
  317  test procedures for students with disabilities. The State Board
  318  of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, shall
  319  develop and implement native language versions of the common
  320  placement test, beginning with the two most prevalent languages
  321  represented in the English language learner population within
  322  this state, and shall develop a timeline for phasing in
  323  additional languages.
  324         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.

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